GUN Iowa Lawmaker Threatened - defends himself with handgun

POSTED: 5:56 pm CST February 14, 2006
UPDATED: 7:28 pm CST February 14, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A western Iowa lawmaker said he was forced to draw a gun on a man who threatened his life.

Clel Baudler, a Republican representative from Greenfield, said he was being followed by a man who had previously threatened him on the phone.

Police said David Whetstone cornered Baudler in his car on Saturday and stuck his head in the window before Baudler hit Whetstone in the face with the gun.

Baudler said the situation began building a 1½ years ago.

"He wanted me to take action against the Guthrie County Sheriff's Office for 10 days of 'torture, pain and injury' he received in the Guthrie County Jail in 1995. At that time, I told him he didn't need a politician, he needed an attorney," Baudler said.

Baudler said the man would not take his advice, and pursued, confronted and threatened the Greenfield Republican.

"He stated he is going to send me to the 'brain hospital,' and another 45 seconds (later) he stated in a 'body bag,'" Baudler said.

Baudler said that a day after that call, he left home to meet with constituents in Atlantic when he said Whetstone tried to run into him, got out of his car, and rushed toward Baudler.

"At that time, he was told that I was armed, he was told to stay back, he was told just to wait, (and) the law enforcement officers are coming, repeatedly," Baudler said.

Baudler is a retired law enforcement officer, a state trooper. He still carries a handgun, for which he's licensed.

"Anytime someone threatens your life that blatantly -- twice -- it causes you some deep concern. I can only imagine how difficult this would be for an untrained person to endure," he said.

Police arrested Whetstone for disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty and paid a fine.

Baudler said he is concerned about another possible confrontation and plans to meet with the county attorney to talk about his options.

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humm..... maybe now would be a good time to write some letters for "shall issue" legislation

- Editor's note: The following report contains language that may be offensive to some readers

ATLANTIC - Iowa Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, pushed at a man's face with a handgun after the man followed him and harassed him in Atlantic Saturday, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

Baudler said he used the gun barrel and his hand to push David Whetstone back from Baudler's car window after Whetstone followed him and made threatening statements.

Cass County Sheriff Bill Sage said Baudler was in Atlantic for a legislative coffee and called 911 to report a fight outside the Cass County Jail. Sage said when his deputy arrived, he noticed Whetstone, of Adair, yelling at Baudler. He said the deputy told Whetstone to calm down, and after repeated requests, got him to do so.

Whetstone, 46, said he called Baudler Friday and said, "Yo, Clel, I will be at your little charade tomorrow," referring to the legislative coffee. Whetstone said Baudler said, "I know who you are," and hung up.

Whetstone said he called Baudler, who is Caucasian, back and said, "And I know who you are, nigger boy. I ought to send you to the brain f-- hospital in a bag." He said the reference was to a mental hospital.

Whetstone said he came to Atlantic Saturday to get his lithium, which he said is court-ordered. He said he's been in mental institutions 13 times.

Baudler confirmed getting the two phone calls. He said he did not know it was Whetstone until he identified himself.

As he was leaving town, Whetstone said he saw Baudler's truck and began following him, eventually ending up at the Atlantic police station. He said he pulled up behind Baudler and Baudler left. Whetstone said he followed him and at one point yelled out of the car, "Yo, nigger boy." Baudler said Whetstone attempted to hit the left front of his truck. "I had to slam on my brakes." Whetstone said he passed Baudler "aggressively."

Baudler said he called 911 three times while Whetstone was following him.

Baudler pulled into the Cass County Courthouse parking lot, where the sheriff's office is located. He said Whetstone approached his truck. Baudler drew his gun and told him to stay back, a command Baudler said he repeated.

Whetstone said he approached Baudler's truck, and Baudler drew a handgun and said, "Stop or I'll shoot." Baudler denies making that statement. Whetstone said Baudler then struck him with the gun barrel, causing a slight cut.

Baudler said he did not hit Whetstone with the weapon, but shoved him back with it and one of his hands. "His head was coming into my window. It was a little bit scary," Baudler said.

Sage said the deputy's report indicates Whetstone continued moving toward Baudler's vehicle, and Baudler pushed the gun into his left cheek, causing a one-inch scrape and substantial swelling. The report states the action was taken to get Whetstone away from the vehicle, Sagesaid.

Deputies then came into the parking lot. Sage said after a deputy got Whetstone to stop yelling, he attempted to determine his issue with Baudler. When Whetstone began yelling again, he was asked to put his hands on his vehicle. Sage said Whetstone refused to do so and was handcuffed without further incident.

Baudler said deputies told Whetstone "20 to 25 times to put his hands on his car and said if he didn't, they would Taser him."

He said it was not his first run-in with Whetstone.

"I fear for society and for myself," Baudler said. "He needs help. I don't know what will happen if we keep ignoring his actions."

Baudler said he first encountered Whetstone in June or July 2004 when he was campaigning in Adair.

"He told me he wanted me to do something about his torture and pain at the Guthrie County Jail in 1995," Baudler said. Whetstone said he had written those words on his car in magic marker. Baudler said he told Whetstone he needed to get an attorney, that he could not help him.

"That seemed to start it off," Baudler said.

Baudler said later that day, Whetstone returned with new words on his car: "Clel, the dirtiest cop ever." Baudler is a former Iowa State Patrol trooper. He said Whetstone threatened his life, and Baudler reported it to the police.

Baudler said he had two other incidents with Whetstone. He said Whetstone drove into his yard in the spring of 2005, mumbling and trying to intimidate him. He told Whetstone to leave or he'd have him arrested. Baudler said he left the property without incident.

Baudler said Whetstone also came up behind him at the Cass County Fair last summer and was mumbling about the president and government.

"I told him I don't want to talk, just to leave me alone," he said. Baudler said he accidentally bumped into Whetstone when he turned around to tell Whetstone to stop following him.

Baudler said he has documented all of the incidents with authorities.

Regarding Saturday's incident, Whetstone pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and paid a $160 fine. He was then released from jail.

Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner said he does not plan to file any charges against Baudler and is reviewing reports to determine if he will file additional charges against Whetstone.

Feistner said local law enforcement has been put on alert regarding Whetstone and past behavior.

Sage said Baudler did have a permit to carry the weapon.

An Adair County Sheriff's spokesperson said their office issued Baudler the permit on Dec. 14, 2005, for the stated reason of protecting valuables.

i wish someone would do an extensive study on places with strict gun laws, like MD, where citizens can't even get permits. and find out how many elected officals carry that disallow the public to carry

Baudler said he did not hit Whetstone with the weapon, but shoved him back with it and one of his hands. "His head was coming into my window. It was a little bit scary," Baudler said.

Sage said the deputy's report indicates Whetstone continued moving toward Baudler's vehicle, and Baudler pushed the gun into his left cheek, causing a one-inch scrape and substantial swelling. The report states the action was taken to get Whetstone away from the vehicle, Sagesaid.

He pushed his face out of his car window. I doubt you could swing your arm with enough force while inside and car and not end up hitting the steering wheel or some other object.